Tree remover attachments



Dec. 23, 1958 Filed June 20, 195 6 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ernest L. ZWesser 24 25 INVENTOR.

TREE REMOVER ATTACHMENTS Filed June 20, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ernest L. Messer INVENTOR.

.\2 By faggg United States. Patefii TREE REMoVEIe-ATTAQHMENTs Ernest L. ,Messer, Deerfield-Beach, Fla. App i a n l n 1956, S rial; No. 592,640

6'Claims.. (c1; 37-2) i nv ntion e t t reew emcver: attachmen and more particularly is directed to adjustable mechanisms; forpower lifting; of 1 standingf, trees;

There are, many prior artattachment-device; for

grubbing, digging; and pulling, standing: trees in ground clearing, employing; prime; movers-,;, such as tractors, endless tread vehicles and heavy trucks. These known devices are all satisfactory. within-the limits of use for which designed. Many of'these devices, however, have common limitations; such as load tilting of thepower vehicle to which attached, non-adjustability, and lack of rocker or rotation-and lifting-action combined,

Accordingly, an,, object ofv this invention is torprovide a; device ofthe class described which'places; forceon thewground and does not tilt the primemover, to which it is attached,

Another objeetof-this invention is to provide a device of 1 the class=described .With. rocker or rotation and lifting s cnt e r tely. ndsimulta eeuslv; pera le;

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the class described with easily adjustable tree engaging elements.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a device of the class described which is simple and economical in construction, employing a minimum of parts, which are predominantly standard items, and, which device will be eflicient and durable in use with a maximum degree of safety.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the following specification, in conjunction with the drawings, forming a part thereof, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device of this invention as attached to an endless tread prime mover, with a change of position of an element of tree engaging means shown in dotted outline; parts removed for clarity;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device of this invention showing the rotation of tree engaging elements in dotted outline, the pivotal relationship of the device to the prime mover, and the relationship of the device with the ground line, parts removed for clarity;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the tree engaging means attached to the rotatable shaft;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of two tree engaging elements in the smallest adjustable relationship ready for attachment to the rotatable shaft;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a tree engaging element and securing pin;

Fig. 6 is aside elevational view of a filler block for use in intermediate adjustable position of the tree engaging elements; and, I

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the filler block.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like members are given the same reference numeral, a prime mover, such as a tractor, endless tread vehicle, and the like, is indicated generally at 1.

A substantially U-shaped frame of the invention is provided from any suitable, heavy,- rigid material, having the legs thereof, preferably, I-beams or channel beams.

The legs 2 of the frame are pivotally mounted, one on each side'of the prime mover 1, near the open ends of the legs and on approximately the plane of the center of gravity of the prime mover. The free ends 3 are formed at an angle, to lay fiat with the ground line 4 when the legs are pivoted downwardly to contact the ground.

Secured to the angled free ends 3 of the legs 2 is a cross member 6 in the form of a rigid, flat, thick sheet of substantial width to abut the ground and form a platform to minimizethe penetration of the free ends 3 of legs 2 into the ground when force is applied thereon. This cross member 6 may be secured to the legs in any suitable manner, preferably Welded thereto on the inside, but fastening it to the bottom or top of the legs issatisfactory, and bolt and rivet fasteners may be satisfactorily used for securing the cross member to. the leg.

The frame is raised and lowered bya hydraulic cylinder 7 fastened to the prime: mover 1, preferably by pivotal fastening, and having the piston 8 pivotally fastened to a leg 2, in a conventionalmanner well'known in the art; Two such: cylinders, one connectedv to each of the legs; with a common'controller has also proven satisfactory andmaybe desired in some instances. Electric Winches havealso proven sati'sfactory foriraising and lowering theframe.

Mounted, on the frame is a rotatable shaft 10 having an enlarged-center ID0111011711. The shaft is mounted: in a plurality of bearing boxes 12: fastenedi to the frame, in; any suitable manner, preferably. by bolts" 13. These bearing, boxes: v12 maybezfastened to.-the cross member 6, as illustrated, and also to extensions of the legs 2, and the shaft may also be journaled in leg extensions.

Secured to the shaft 10, preferably adjacent the ends thereof, are a pair of arms 16 pivotally connected with the pistons 17, as illustrated at 15, of a pair of hydraulic cylinders 18. These cylinders 18 are pivotally mounted, as illustrated at 19, with one of the cylinders mounted to each leg 2 of the frame, and are mutually controlled. The arms 16 may be secured to the shaft in any suitable conventional manner, such as welded, splined or keyed.

The enlarged center portion 11 of the shaft 10, has a central upwardlytapering rectangular aperture 21, and a pair of upwardly tapering rectangular apertures 22 spaced equidistant on each side of said central aperture 21, parallel thereto and half the length of the central aperture 21.

The engaging means are provided in the form of a pair of L-shaped members having tapering legs 24 and 25. The shorter legs 24 are constructed to fit into the shaft apertures 22 individually, and both to fit into the shaft central aperture 21. The shorter legs 24 have provided adjacent the ends thereof, tapering apertures 27 positioned to be on top of the enlarged central portion 11 of the shaft 10, when the legs 24 are positioned in either of the apertures 21 and 22 of the shaft. Tapering pins 28 are inserted in the apertures 27 to tightly secure the tree engaging members to the shaft.

When both of the legs 24 are in the central aperture 21 they fit this aperture snugly; and, when the legs 24 are each in spaced aperture 22, they fit snugly. When only one of the legs 24 is positioned in the central aperture 21, however, a spacer block 30 of the same size and shape as a leg 24 is inserted with one of the legs 24 into the central aperture 21 to provide a tight fit. This spacer block 30 has an aperture 31 of the same size and shape as the aperture 27 in the legs 24, and receives a taper pin 28.

In operation, the tree engaging members legs 24 are;

positioned in the desired apertures of the enlarged section 11 of the shaft 10 and secured with the taper pins 28. The hydraulic cylinder 7 is actuated to lower the frame leg 2 until the cross-member plate 6 contacts the ground. The complete unit is moved forward by the prime mover 1 to a tree, which may or may not have been excavated around to expose the root structure. The tree engaging legs 25 are rotated downwardly by actuation of the hydraulic cylinder 18 to move the piston 17 to rotate the shaft 10. The prime mover 1 is adis actuated to raise the frame legs 2 and the tree engaged by the legs 25.

The device has been described in detail but it is understood that it is not so limited, many changes and modifications can be made therein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by grant Letters Patent is:

1. A tree puller attachment for tractors and the like, comprising, in combination, a U-shaped attachment frame having a transverse member and legs secured adjacent the end thereof, means for pivotally mounting the open ends of the frame legs to a tractor or the like, said transverse member having a substantially wide flat bottom surface; a shaft rotatably mounted on said frame adjacent the frame transverse member, tapered L-shaped tree engaging members, tapered apertures in said shaft having therein a leg of each of the tapered L-shaped tree engaging elements, removable means securing said tapering legs in said tapered aperture; means for raising 4 and lowering said frame by pivotal action, and reciprocal means for rotating said shaft.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the securing means for said tree engaging members, comprising a tapered aperture in the tapered leg inserted in the tapered aperture of the shaft, and a tapered pin inserted in said leg aperture.

3. The device of claim 1 in which the reciprocal means of rotating the shaft comprises an hydraulic cylinder and a reciprocating piston in said cylinder, which piston is connected through a pivotal linkage with said shaft.

4. The device of claim 1, in which the frame legs section adjacent the transverse member are angled to position the transverse member in flat abutting relationship with the ground when the frame is lowered.

5. The device of claim 1 in which said tapered apertures in said shaft comprises a central aperture adapted to receive two tree engaging members, and a plurality of apertures adapted to receive one of said tree engaging members.

6. The device of claim 5 in which a filler block of the size and shape of the tree engaging member leg insertable in the shaft aperture is employed with one tree engaging member in said central aperture.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,036,111 Wilson Mar. 31, 1936 2,113,420 Younie Apr. 5, 1938 2,506,662 Cusenbary May 9, 1950 2,674,818 Carnes Apr. 13, 1954 2,766,535 Ralston Oct. 16, 1956 2,771,693 Busque Nov. 27, 1956 2,776,504 Green Jan. 8, 1957 2,788,199 Ankersheil Apr. 9, 1957 

